Having your wisdom teeth removed can be a real pain, but it’s an unavoidable procedure for many people. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Here are 10 tips to help you survive your wisdom teeth surgery.
- Read up on the process.
Having your wisdom teeth removed is considered a moderately invasive form of surgery, and before you let someone take a knife to your gum line, it’s important that you educate yourself about the process. Reading up about the surgery may make you a little squeamish, but in the long run, knowing what you’re getting into will serve you well. - Ask lots of questions.
Some people may be reluctant to ask their dentists lots of questions before the procedure for fear of sounding dumb. However, it’s better to appear ignorant and get informed than stay silent and have no idea what’s going on. Even if you’re curious about something that seems insignificant, be sure to address it with your dentist—you never know what will actually end up being important. - Plan your recovery beforehand.
If you’ve never been under the effects of anesthesia before, here’s a little secret: You will be in no condition to do much of anything as it begins to wear off after your surgery. Because of this, you’ll want to have your recovery plan mapped out and ready to go before you even get to the dentist’s office. This includes arranging a ride afterwards and organizing your recovery space at home. - Expect to spend a few days in bed.
Whether it’s because you’re married to your job or have lots of other responsibilities, you may be tempted hit the ground running in terms of productivity after your surgery. However, between the swelling, pain, and pain-relieving medication, it’s best to embrace your time off and ease back into your normal schedule. Trying to do too much too soon could actually cost you even more time in the long run. - Modify your diet.
The pain after surgery will likely prevent you from chewing solid foods for several days. This means you’ll need to stock up on soft foods and liquids, such as soup and gelatin. When planning your post-surgery diet, be sure to include plenty of high-calorie, high-protein foods to ensure that you’re maintaining adequate nutrition. - Embrace mindless entertainment.
Even if you’re not normally a fan of Netflix marathons, you might want to consider temporarily becoming one for the duration of your recovery. Your dentist will provide you with medication to help alleviate the pain, but anything that can help get your mind off of it even more will be a benefit. TV shows and movies are a great way to keep your mind off of your mouth. - Keep up with aftercare.
While instructions may vary from dentist to dentist, there will be some aftercare involved in your recovery process, and most commonly this will include changing the gauze at the surgical site, taking pain medication, and rinsing with salt water. Even if you feel like you’re at 100% again, it’s important to keep these activities up for as long as your dentist specifies. - Alternate between cold and heat to reduce swelling.
During the first 24 hours of your recovery, you should apply ice packs to your cheeks to help prevent swelling. However, after this time has elapsed, it’s important that you replace the ice packs with cloths soaked in warm water. Continuing to use ice after the first day can actually cause the swelling to become worse. - Avoid straws.
Since your diet after surgery will be made up primarily of liquids, you may be tempted to use a straw. However, the sucking motion a straw creates can actually dislodge the blood clots that are needed to help stop bleeding at the surgical site. - Stop smoking.
Even if you have no plans to quit entirely, it’s important to stop smoking in the days before and after your wisdom teeth removal surgery. Cigarette smoke can cause the surgical site to become excessively dry and may cause problems with normal healing.
